Belarusian History and Culture. Commemorative coin "Polotsk". First coin of two coins set. Pololsk is one of the most ancient cities in Eastern Europe. First mentioned in records as far back as 862. In the 10–th – 13fh centuries it was the center of the Polotsk Principality, a large state formation whose social and political life was to a great extent dependent on a popular assembly – veche. In the 14th – 16th centuries, Polotsk was the largest city in the Grand Principality of Lithuania. Its advantageous geographic position stimulated proliferation of trade and growth of citizens' wealth. Throughout its centuries–old history, the city has been and still remains a spiritual and cultural center of Belarus. It produced such an outstanding personalities as Efrosinya Polotskaya (Efrosinya of Polotsk), Francisk Scorina and Simeon Polotsky (Simeon of Polotsk). The first Belarusian Ortodox church – St. Sophia Cathedral (Sophiisky Sobor) (11th century) – was built in this city, there was the most ancient Belarusian library in the 11th – 14th centuries. As in the olden times, Polotsk today is the city of rich musical and artistic culture and the center of spiritual revival of our state.